WO1990006271A1

WO1990006271A1 - Package in particular for flat objects

Info

Publication number: WO1990006271A1
Application number: PCT/FI1989/000227
Authority: WO
Inventors: Aarne Marni
Original assignee: Aarne Marni
Priority date: 1988-12-07
Filing date: 1989-12-07
Publication date: 1990-06-14
Also published as: FI885667A; FI885667A0; AU4640289A

Abstract

A package in particular for flat objects, such as magnetic memory diskettes, memory cards or other corresponding objects. The package comprises two identical outer panels (1, 1') and, between them, pocket panels (6', 6'') and (8', 8'') which form the set of pockets in the package. In a finished package, the outer panels (1, 1') are interconnected by their side edges (2, 3) and (2', 3') and possibly also by their bottom edges (4, 4'). The package is characterized by shield panels (20, 20') which form a magnetic protection and which are installed between the outer panels (1, 1') and the pocket panels (6', 8'') placed next to the outer panels. The package is made advantageously of a substantially unified rectangulaire blank, in which the parts which form the outer panels (1, 1') and which are placed at the longitudinal ends of the blank are wider in the transverse direction of the blank than the rest of the blank.

Description

Package in particular for flat objects

The present invention concerns a package in particular for purposeful transportation or storage of flat objects, such as magnetic memory diskettes, memory cards or other corresponding objects.

It is estimated that at present, in Finland, in the Province of Uusimaa alone, every week, about 40,000 magnetic memory diskettes are transported or carried by mail, by messengers, or by persons travelling to various conferences, etc. At present a problem is constituted by the absence of such a handy transportation package in the market as would also protect the memory diskettes from damage that might be caused by their rubbing against each other, by electric discharges, magnetic fields, and by electromagnetic fields. When memory diskettes are carried through various detector devices, e.g. the safety inspec¬ tions at airports, the diskettes are subjected to magnetic fields, and the consequences may be disastrous, in the worst case the whole contents of diskettes are destroyed.

From the EP-patent application no. 205,758, it is known to protect such sensitive flat objects, such as magnetic memory diskettes, by means of a material consisting of several layers, wherein the layers may be, e.g., of metallized plastic material, of permanently antistatic plastic material, and wherein there may be a layer of air between said materials. A package which comprises one box, pocket, or equivalent and wherein at least one side consists of said material is also known from said EP- patent application.

It is a problem of such a package that it comprises only one pocket, i.e. only one diskette can be placed in it as the requirement is that the diskettes must not be in direct rubbing contact against each other. Here it would, of course, be possible to use a loose partition board as a separation board between the diskettes, but this is inconvenient and unpractical. Moreover, the manufacture of such a prior-art package is relatively laborious and requires several working steps.

The object of the present invention is a considerable reduction of the above problems so that the. package is as simple as possible from the production-technical point of view and protects the diskettes from rubbing against each other as well as protects the diskettes against magnetic fields and against mechanical strains. Moreover, upon attaching of an address label, the package must be a finished letter or parcel which can be handed over to the mail office or to the messenger for transportation.

The above object is achieved by means of a package in accordance with the accompanying patent claims.

Thus, the package in accordance with the invention comprises at least one pocket receiving e.g. a magnetic memory diskette, memory card or other corresponding object, and on both sides of this shield panels, which are intended for protecting the objects in said pocket/set of pockets primarily from influence of magnetic fields.

The package comprises according to one advantageous embodiment of the invention two substantially identical outer panels parallel to each other, said outer panels comprising side edges corresponding to each other as well as an upper edge which forms the opening of the package, the side edges of the outer panels, which correspond to each other, being interconnected at least at their portions adjoining said upper edges, and that it further comprises, both between the outer panels and covered by the outer panels, at least one pocket intended for receiving of objects, said pocket consisting of two substantially parallel pocket panels, which comprise upper edges which are directed towards the opening of the package and form the opening of the pocket as well as lower edges which are directed away from the opening, which are connected to each other, and which form the, at least partly closed, bottom of the pocket, whereby the upper edge of a pocket panel that is, in each particular case, placed closest to any of the outer panels joins the upper edge of the outer panel concerned, and the upper edge of the other pocket panel of the same pocket joins either the upper edge of a pocket panel of the adjoining pocket or the upper edge of the other outer panel, and two shield panels, which have a shape and a size substantially equal to the shape and the size of a pocket panel placed next to an outer panel and which are installed between the outer panels and the pocket panels placed next to the outer panels.

The invention will be described in the following in more detail by means of examples, which are not supposed to restrict the invention, reference being made to the accompanying drawings, wherein

Figure 1 is a schematical perspective view of a package in the folding stage, and

Figure 2 is a schematical top view of a blank of which the package is formed.

The package shown in Fig. 1 is intended for two data diskettes, and it is shown in the folding stage. It comprises two substantially identical outer panels 1, 1', which have a rectangular shape, in the embodiment shown, and which are provided with side edges 2, 3 and 2' , 3' corresponding to each other as well as an upper edge 5, 5¹ which forms the opening of the package. In a complete package, the side edges of the outer panels that correspond to each other are connected to each other at least in their portions that adjoin said upper edges 5, 5', advantageously, however, over their entire length and, if desired, also at their bottom edges 4, 4" . In the embodiment shown, between the outer panels 1 , 1 ^' , there are two pockets 6, 8 intended for receiving objects, such as data diskettes. Each pocket consists of two substantially rectangular pocket panels 6' , 6", which are defined by side edges substantially parallel to the side edges 2, 3 and 2* , 3' of the outer panels 1, 1' , by upper edges 11, 11' which form the opening of the pocket, and by lower edges which form the bottom 7 of the pocket and which are directed away from the opening. The lower edges of the pocket panels join each other, and in the embodiment shown the pocket panels are made of one piece, in which case the bottom of the pocket consists of a fold. At a pocket, the upper edge 11' of the pocket panel that is placed next to any of the outer panels joins the upper edge 5' of said outer panel. In the embodiment shown, the outer panels 1, l¹ and the pocket panels 6¹, 6" and 8', 8" are made of one piece, so that they have a common upper edge consisting of a fold. The same is true regarding the upper edge of the other pocket panel in a pocket/ which is made of one piece with the upper edge of the pocket panel of the adjoining pocket. It is obvious that the panels may also be made of separate pieces, in which case they may be combined at their edges, e.g. , by gluing.

The package opening, whose edges consist of the upper edges 5, 5¹ of the outer panels 1, l¹, can be closed in a way in itself known, for example by means of an adhesive band, tape, or in any other, corresponding way. At one of the outer panels l or 1' of the package, at the prox¬ imity of its upper edge 5, 5', it is also possible to make an extra fold, which is, at the stage of closing the package, folded over the mouth opening of the package and attached to the other side panel by gluing, by an adhesive band, tape, or in any other, corresponding way. In such a case, the outer panel in which the fold is made is by the dimension of said fold longer than the other outer panel in order that the lower edges 4, 4¹ of the outer panels should meet each other on folding.

Fig. 1 also illustrates the panels 20, 20' which form the magnetic protection of the package and which are installed between the outer panels l, l^• and the pocket panels 6' , 8" placed next to the outer panels. The shield panels are substantially of a shape and size of the pocket panel 6', 8" placed next to the outer panels 1, 1' in order that they should protect the objects placed in the pockets primarily against influences of magnetic fields. In the embodiment shown, the shield panels 20, 20' consist of a folded metal sheet. In the exemplifying embodiment shown, the sheet has been folded to U-shape, the width 21 of the bottom portion of the U-section depending on the number of the pockets, i.e. on the thickness of the set of pockets. In stead of being made of metal, the panel sheets may also be made of some other material which has an effect protecting against magnetic fields similar to that of a metal sheet. Advantageously the sheets are made of a steel as free from carbon as possible, in which case their thickness may vary between 0.05 mm and 0.5 mm, being advantageously 0.3 mm - 0.5mm. Metallic shield panels of this thickness give already a quite good protection for the memory diskettes in the package against static magnetic fields the magnetic flux density of which on the point of the package where it is greatest is less than about 50 mT. The shield panels can also form a housing, whereby the shield panels 20, 20' are exept to their bottom parts 21 also to their sides joined to each other with a corresponding material. Thus, a mechanically quite solid housing is formed.

Out of a blank 10 in accordance with Fig. 2, which is advantageously substantially rectangular in shape, a package is obtained which comprises two pockets. The portions that form the outer panels 1, 1' of the package, placed at the longitudinal ends of the blank, are wider in the transverse direction of the blank than the remaining part of the blank in order that the remaining part of the blank, which forms the set of pockets and which remains between the outer panels 1, 1' in Fig. 2, should, in the folding stage, be covered by the outer panels 1, 1' and in order that it should additionally permit attaching of the side edges 2, 3; 2¹, 3' and possibly 4, 4¹ of the outer panels 1, l¹, which correspond to each other, to each other so that the corresponding edges of the pockets remaining inside the outer panels 1, 1' are not fixed at the same time.

Into the blank 10, at the middle of its longitudinal axis, in the transverse direction of the blank, a crease impression 11 has been made, which, in the present case of two pockets, will form the upper edge betwee the pockets, parallel to the opening of the package. Moreover, into the blank 10, at both sides of the crease 11, two double crease impressions 12, 12' parallel to the crease 11 have been made. These have been made as double impres¬ sions, which means here two lines of impression placed side by side, simply in order to facilitate the folding. The crease impressions 12, 12' are placed so that the blank portions between the crease 11 and the upper edges 5, 5* of the outer panels 1, l' are divided by the creases 12, 12' into substantially equally large parts. The creases 12, 12' will form the bottoms of the pockets. The length of the blank portion that remains between the side panels l, 1* in the direction of the longitudinal axis of the blank is determined by the number of the pockets. In the case of one pocket, the length of said blank portion is advantageously 5 to 50 % less than twice the length of the side panel 1 or 1' in the corresponding direction. In the case of two pockets, the length of said blank portion is advantageously 5 to 50 % less than four times, in the case of three pockets six times, in the case of four pockets eight times the length of the side panel 1, l¹ in the corresponding direction, etc.

Even though a substantially rectangular blank is advanta¬ geous, e.g., in view of the consumption of material, machining, and folding into a package, it is also possible, for example, that one or several angles of the parts 1, 1' that form the side panels are rounded, that one or several angles of the parts 6', 6" and 8', 8" that form the pocket panels are rounded. The part that is divided by the crease impressions, that remains between the outer panels of the blank, and that forms the pockets can also be divided, for example, so that the blank portion that forms the inter¬ mediate panels of the pockets between the creases 12-12' is considerably shorter than twice the blank portion that forms one wall of the pockets between the creases 5-12. An asymmetric division is also possible in principle.

As the material for the blank, it is possible to use paper, cardboard, various combinations of plastic and paper, or any other material suitable for the purpose of use. The parts 1, l' of the blank that form the side panels may also be made of a different material or of a material of different thickness as compared with the rest of the blank, in which case the side panels are fixed to the rest of the blank by gluing, by adhesive tape, or in a corresponding way. If a flexible material is used in the blank portion that forms the pockets, the pockets of a finished package of, e.g., two pockets can be emptied simply by pulling by the upper edge between the pockets, whereby the pocket bottoms with their contents rise towards the package opening. The side panels 1, 1' themselves can also be of a protective material against influence of magnetic fields, whereby there is no need for separate shield panels.

Claims

CLAIMS :

1. Package in particular for flat objects, c h a r a c ¬ t e i z e d in that it comprises at least one pocket (6) receiving e.g. a magnetic memory diskette, memory card or other corresponding object, and on both sides of this shield panels (20, 20*), which are intended for protecting the objects in said pocket/set of pockets primarily from influ¬ ence of magnetic fields.

2. Package as claimed in claim 1, c h a r a c t e r ¬ i z e d in that it comprises besides the, at least one pocket (6) receiving the object, on both side of this second pockets (13, 14) formed by the outer panels (1, 1') and in each particular case the pocket panels (6', 8¹') closest to the outer panels in which second pockets the shield panels (20, 20') are installed.

3. Package as claimed in claim 2, c h a r a c t e r ¬ i z e d in that it comprises two substantially identical outer panels (1, 1') parallel to each: other, said outer pa¬ nels comprising side edges (2, 3; 2', 3') corresponding to each other as well as an upper edge (5, 5' ) which forms the opening of the package, the side edges (2, 3; 2', 3') of the outer panels, which correspond to each other, being inter¬ connected at least at their portions adjoining said upper edges (5, 5'), and that it further comprises, both between the outer panels (1, 1' ) and covered by the outer panels, at least one pocket (6) intended for receiving of objects, said pocket consisting of two substantially parallel pocket panels (6', 6"), which comprise upper edges (11, 11') which are directed towards the opening of the package and form the opening of the pocket as well as lower edges which are di¬ rected away from the opening, which are connected to each other, and which form the, at least partly closed, bottom (7) of the pocket (6), whereby the upper edge (11') of a pocket panel (6') that is, in each particular case, placed closest to any of the outer panels (1, l') joins the upper edge (5') of the outer panel (!') concerned, and the upper edge (11) of the other pocket panel (6") of the same pocket joins either the upper edge of a pocket panel (8*) of the adjoining pocket (8) or the upper edge (5) of the other outer panel (1), and two shield panels (20, 20'), which have a shape and a size substantially equal to the shape and the size of a pocket panel (6¹, 8") placed next to an outer panel (1, 1' ) and which are installed between the outer panels (1, 1' ) and the pocket panels (6' , 8") placed next to the. outer panels.

4. Package as claimed in claim 3, c h a r a c t e r ¬ i z e d in that both: of the shield panels (20, 20') consist of a sheet which has been folded into two substan¬ tially equally large parts along the transverse axis of the sheet.

5. Package as claimed in claim 3, c h a r a c t e r ¬ i z e d in that both: of the shield panels (20, 20') consist of a sheet which has been folded substantially to U-shape, the width of the bottom part (21) of the U-section substan¬ tially corresponding to the thickness of the set of pockets in the package.

6. Package as claimed in claim 4 or 5, c h a r a c t e r ¬ i z e d in that the shield panels (20, 20') form a housing, whereby the shield panels are joined to each other also from their side-edges with: a corresponding material.

7. Package as claimed in claim 4 or 5, c h a r a c t e r ¬ i z e d in that the shield panels/panel (20, 20') are/is made of a metal sheet of a thickness of about 0.05 mm to 0.5 mm, advantageously 0.3 mm to 0.5 mm or of a sheet that has properties protecting against magnetic fields similar to those of a metal sheet.

8. Package as claimed in claim 7, c h a r a c t e r ¬ i z e d in that the shield panels/panel (20, 20') are/is made of a steel as free from carbon as possible.

9. Package as claimed in claim 3, c h a r a c t e r ¬ i z e d in that the material that is used for the package is paper, cardboard, various combinations of paper and plastic, or other material suitable for the purpose of use.

10. Package as claimed in claim 3, c h a r a c t e r ¬ i z e d in that the side panels 1, 1' are made of a different material or of a material of different thickness as compared with the rest of the package, which is ad¬ vantageously made of a flexible material, whereby the pockets (6, 8) of a finished package can be emptied by pulling by the upper edge between the pockets.